Christmas Traditions from Around the World

Today is a big day for most Americans – getting last minute gifts, or ingredients for their big meals either today or tomorrow.

Kids are getting excited to Santa’s arrival – being extra good for one last day.  While we have American Christmas traditions like leaving stockings by the chimney, other countries do things a little differently.

Here are some fun traditions from around the world published on The North Pole website.

Australia

Because it’s Summer down under, their Christmas celebrations are more like our 4^th of July picnics – outside barbeques and the kids are getting out for Summer break. Food is more picnic fare such as cold deli meats and salads.

Due to concerns that Santa might suffer heat stroke while delivering gifts in Australia, Swag Man comes to the rescue. He is dressed in shorts and drives a four-wheeler, both much more appropriate for the conditions down under.

China

The majority of the Chinese are not Christian but for those who are, they celebrate by lighting their houses with white paper lanterns and await the arrival of Dun Che Lao Ren which means Christmas Old Man.  They decorate their Tree of Lights with chains, flowers and lanterns all made of paper.

Scandinavia

The Yule log comes from the Scandinavians. The log used to be the entire tree, brought into the house and slowly fed into the fire from the bottom to the top. Yuletide literally means “the turning of the sun” which is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, the time when the days slowly get longer and the nights shorter – the return of the sun.

Scotland

Christmas for the Scots is somber while New Year’s or Hogmanay is full of merriment and celebration. The first stranger to step through your house on New Year’s Day has much significance in the way your new year will go. It’s called First Footing and, depending on where you are from, good luck comes from either a dark-haired person or a fair-haired person.

Venezuela

Between December 16^th and 24^th, Venezuelans attend daily early morning mass, Misa do Aguinaldo. It is a custom to roller-skate to the service and the streets of Caracas actually stay closed until 8:00 am.  Children supposedly tie a string to their toes and hang the other end out the window and the skaters tug on the string when they skate by.

For many other countries’ traditions, please check out The North Pole’s website. Merry Christmas!